Kiss and Die

Chapter 56

‘Hey.’ Ali caught up with Shrimp when he came out of the Delhi Grill. He was walking down the stairs. ‘Leave my sister alone. She doesn’t go on dates, not with you or anyone.’

‘I didn’t ask her for a date. I am trying to solve the stabbing of a policewoman. I’m trying to find out as much as I can to help save your brother from going to prison. Isn’t that what you want?’

‘We told you what we know.’

‘Don’t you want to help your brother?’

‘It’s not a case of that; we don’t know any more than you. Why don’t you ask him?’

‘He’s not talking. He fears something else more than us, more than life in prison. What would that be, do you think?’

‘The gangs.’

‘How long do you think he’s been a Triad?’

Ali looked away in disgust. ‘Don’t be stupid. Mahmud is no Triad. Whatever he was doing there, it wasn’t Triad business.’

‘What’s his relationship with his father like?’

‘He is his pride and joy. You know we all do what we can. Things haven’t been easy. Our mum died five years ago. Since then we all have to help in the restaurant.’

‘Even you?’

He grinned. ‘It’s not my thing. I help in other ways. I buy the extras we can’t afford. I paid for Mahmud to get a better education. I paid for the extra lessons to learn to read and write Mandarin. I can’t do it. Mahmud is clever. He takes his studies seriously. He isn’t out chasing girls or taking ice. He has his heart set on being a doctor.’

‘So what the hell has gone wrong?’

Ali shook his head. ‘We are in crisis at the moment. The Mansions has gone fucking mad. People being chopped, killed. We are all scared of the future but now terrified of the present. We have nowhere else to go. We told you what we know.’

‘Did you? I think you left out more than you said.’

‘Where are you going with that?’ He pointed to the urumi, wrapped in plastic, in Shrimp’s hand. ‘That’s private property.’

‘You’ll get it back. Listen, Ali, no one wants to cause more trouble here. If you just let it run the Triads will take over this entire place and you’ll have gang wars every night. Is that what you want for your family?’

Ali took a deep breath and shook his head. ‘I’m sorry. I heard the rumours. I had an idea that it was Rajini, I should have been more helpful. I have to keep my family safe. I have to put them first. I know Mahmud was not involved in the attack on the officer. My father is about to have a breakdown thanks to all of this. I have to go. There’s nothing more I can tell you.’

As he walked away, he stopped and looked at Shrimp earnestly. ‘But please keep trying for us. I am sorry to be strict about my sister but stay away from Nina, she’s been through enough. She marries next month.’

Shrimp tried not to look like the news had impacted but inside a small jolt of pain had shot through his heart.

As he was about to step back onto Nathan Road, Nina caught up with him.

‘I am sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things.’ She looked behind her, breathless. She didn’t want to be seen talking to him. She stayed within the threshold of the Mansions.

‘No, you should. It’s no good hiding anything, Nina, it will just come out in the end and make even more trouble. Look, if I can help you in any way, if you need me, you call.’

She smiled gratefully as Shrimp handed her his card. It occurred to him he’d never seen anyone so lovely.

‘Can you read Mandarin?’

She nodded. ‘I am learning.’

He handed her his card. ‘My mobile number is on the back.’

He watched her go. She turned back to smile as she disappeared back into the crowds.